Re-implement MacOS app switcher with better functionality

[turbanisch]

My problem is the following: Let's say I have a browser and a text editor side by side, with another fullscreen browser window in the background. Using the default MacOS app switcher, both browser windows woud come to the front with Cmd-Tab, hiding the text editor.

AltTab allows window switching already – however, I personally keep a lot of windows open at the same time and prefer the simplicity of cycling through apps over cycling through my clutter of windows. I have currently set up AltTab only for switching windows of the current app with Cmd+`.

I am wondering if AltTab could re-implement the MacOS app switcher with the following two tweaks:

1. Selecting an app with Cmd+Tab brings only the last used window to front, not all windows.
2. With an app focussed in the app switcher, Cmd+` brings up an overview of windows for that app; repeated Alt+` cylces through windows.

Number one would obviously be the big improvement here; number two just icing on the cake. I would expect that AltTab already has most of the tooling to pull something like this off if this idea resonates with people other than just me? This issue is related and partially overlapping with #337, so I am assuming it might :)

I am aware that MacOS' mission control already allows something similar to 2) and I wish it were implemented more thoughtfully. Currently, I have to focus an app in the app switcher, press up, press right to cycle through windows for apps like Finder; for apps with recent files shown such as Preview, the sequence would require more right and up navigation, depending on the number of open windows. And worse, arrow keys would not only cycle through open app windows but also through the recents at the bottom (or whatever they are). Finally, arrow keys require both hands to be used whereas Cmd+Tab and Cmd+` are close to each other and can be used one-handed.

And again, my main feature request would be number 1) 🙏

[lwouis]

Hi,

I think you'd like #337. In the meanwhile, you could use preferences > Appearance > App Icons Style and go in Customize > Advanced > switcher shows: Apps. This will give you point number 1.

Thank you

[turbanisch]

Thank you for this lightning-fast reply! I seriously thought I had already explored all the options within preferences but I was not aware of that. However, the method you suggest seems to work the same as the default MacOS app switcher in that it brings to front all windows, not just the last one? Also, setting the appearence to to app icons works for the app switcher but not really for switching through windows of a selected app. I'll keep my eyes on #337 then!

[cfviotti]

Thank you for this lightning-fast reply! I seriously thought I had already explored all the options within preferences but I was not aware of that. However, the method you suggest seems to work the same as the default MacOS app switcher in that it brings to front all windows, not just the last one? Also, setting the appearence to to app icons works for the app switcher but not really for switching through windows of a selected app. I'll keep my eyes on #337 then!

This.
Indeed, when the app is set up like so, switching between windows (cmd + ~) does not make any sense anymore (the switcher pops up with the current app as the only item with nothing else to do).

I think a middle ground solution would be if we could set different appearance behaviors for distinct shortcuts, enabling us to switch between Apps with cmd + Tab and between Windows of current App with cmd + ~, with thumbnails and all.

Of course, no idea if this is feasible or desired for an actual release.